Occupational Lead Exposure and Brain Tumors: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Joonho Ahn, Mi Yeon Park, Mo-Yeol Kang, In-Soo Shin, Sungjae An and Hyoung-Ryoul Kim
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Joonho Ahn: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
Mi Yeon Park: Department of Radiology, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Korea
Mo-Yeol Kang: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
In-Soo Shin: Graduate School of Education, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Korea
Sungjae An: Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University, Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 13620, Korea
Hyoung-Ryoul Kim: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: (1) Background : Due to inconsistencies in epidemiological findings, there has been uncertainty regarding the association of lead compounds with brain tumors. We performed a meta-analysis of published case-control and cohort studies exploring lead compound exposure and brain tumor risk. (2) Methods : We searched PubMed, Embase ® , and Cochrane to find eligible studies. Eighteen studies were selected for assessment of occupational exposure to lead compound and brain tumor. Pooled estimates of odds ratios (ORs) were obtained using random effects models. We assessed the differences through subgroup analysis according to tumor type, study design, measurements of exposure, and tumor outcome. Statistical tests for publication bias, heterogeneity, and sensitivity analysis were applied. (3) Results : Our systematic review and meta-analysis showed a not significant association with lead exposure and risk of benign and malignant brain tumors (pooled OR = 1.11, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.95–1.29). Including only malignant brain tumors, the risk of brain tumor was significantly increased (pooled OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04–1.24). (4) Conclusions : This meta-analysis provides suggestive evidence for an association between lead compound exposure and brain tumor. In future studies, it will be necessary to identify the effect of lead compounds according to the types of brain tumor.

Keywords: brain tumor; lead compound; carcinogen; meta-analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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